Photography From Home?
@froggieslover (3069)
United States
May 3, 2010 10:08pm CST
I recently got a new camera and one night when I was out taking some pictures of my kids I was approached and asked if I was a professional and if I would be interested in taking some photos for them for a little bit of money. And while I had to turn them down because I have no idea how to take ones picture professionally enough to except money but when I came home and told my husband about what just happened it got me to thinking that maybe I should look into this as just a side "job" for a few people but I have no idea where to start.
I have a Fujifilm camera that I just recently bought and it is pretty decent as far as I am concerned, I am still learning how to work all of the settings on it which just comes with time but I am looking for some tips or advice on how to get started into this. I know that part on getting customers and advertising but I am unsure on what all I should be looking into as far as equipment. I am hoping to do this all from home without needing a lot of extras.
Can anyone who has started their own business in photography offer me any advice or even someone who just has their own photography out of their home give me some tips on what I need to take the pics and then get them developed for the customer? Thanks!!!
1 person likes this
7 responses
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
4 May 10
You will probably need a tri-pod and learn developing techniques. And then you need to have some pictures to show. I had a friend who lives in Montana and he started taking pictures of nature and such. He also took pictures of riders in a national riding contest up that way. He would make several thousand dollars annually just selling the pictures he took at the event. He isn't a professional nor has he taken any classes or anything.
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
6 May 10
I think it is cool that you can make a picture any color you want it too. That is an added affect I like sometimes. I think as far as what to charge them I would figure how much an hour you want to be paid and then charge that way as to how long it takes you. If you do get any software or things like that and use those in a picture then I would charge alittle more when I used them. Good luck to you and have fun with it.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
5 May 10
Hello Celtic...thats where I have started with taking pictures of buildings, trees, animals, flowers and such and because I thought that that would give me a start of the different settings within my camera and then I could also use those as some what of an portfolio. I would like to just take the photos then use a photoshop to spruce them up and them print them to disc for the customer without worrying about printing them all out because in my mindset that would eliminate some extra materials and saving money and time. But I am not sure if customers would really lke that or not because than that also leaves them doing some workand I am also not sure on what I should charge for something like that since they are not getting any printouts from me and having to do it themselves if needed. Thanks for your tips celtic
1 person likes this
@phoenix8606 (4942)
•
4 May 10
hi! what model is your fujifilm camera?
i have s5700 and I also want to earn
some money with it, but it is really hard,
because there are mayn people who have better
cameras(DSLR's) and their photos are erally much
better, but now I have registered to some sites
where you can post and sell your photos. if you are interested
in it, just let me know to give you the sites,
but I must tell you once again- it is hard at the
beginning and i also have some difficulties!
1 person likes this
@phoenix8606 (4942)
•
6 May 10
well, it si really hard for non-professionals
like me and you to sell their photos, because
people search for something professional and
people like me and you are not that interesting
to them. but as you say we should try some
online forums and sites where we can show
our work, the best of it and hope that someone
will like it!
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
4 May 10
Invest in a good digital slr camera. You can get some pretty good deals on them these days. Go for a 6mp. 10mp if you can. Get a photo editing program. I suggest adobe photo shop. Practice with your camera all the different settings. The great thing about digital is you can see the shot you are going to take, and there is no film to waste, so you can just keep taking shots, and delete the ones you don't like. Then you can take the pictures you like, load them on your comp, and touch them up in photo shop. Modern technology can make anyone a professional photographer. Then you can just print the pics out on some picture paper right from your printer, or put them on a cd/dvd for them to print off themselves.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
5 May 10
I just bought myself a pretty decent camera a few months ago with a 12 MP and it takes some amazing pictures..I thought that most of what you wrote is all I had to do just as I read in the articles online. Do you take any pictures yourself? Thanks for your advice redhotpogo
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
5 May 10
currently no. I use to, but never for money. Just to build a portfolio, and get noticed so that one day I could have a little studio of my own. But then things happened in my life, and I got away from it. I'll get back to it soon.
@john_ronald (383)
• Hong Kong
5 May 10
this is good discussion, when i read this i got the idea of your concerns and i think that maybe we can do that by taking pictures and post in the internet then they will buy your picture and you can get a penny for pictures you have uploaded. I hope we succeed in what we are looking for.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
5 May 10
Hello and thanks...I am not really looking to make any money on the internet off of my pictures I am just thinking more towards local type pictures..taking pictures for people that are getting married, senior pictures, prom pictures etc. Thanks for your response john
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 May 10
If there are any photography stores that are close to where you live, then I would recommend taking a class. I am wanting to do this right now because photography is something that is very interesting to me. I've had my DSLR camera for almost three years now and I still don't have it entirely figured out. That said, if you want to do photograhy inside your house you would need lights and a backdrop stand, etc. I would like to start my own side business but I want to do more natural light (outdoor) photography because it doesn't cost nearly as much to get started with.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
28 Jun 10
I wanted to look into a class for it but infortunately no there isn't. I live in a smaller town and the closest place like that is over a hour away and I just think that is to far to drive especially in the winter. I am doing all of my photography from outside because like you mentioned it doesn't cost as much because you don't need all the materials. One of the flaws that I see with limiting myself to only taking pictures out side is that we get 6 months of winter so if I am banking on the as a full time business I am more than likely crap outta luck in the winter time. Thanks for your response dorann =)
@RachelleNH (1396)
• United States
4 May 10
First-That's awesome! Getting creative in this stinking economy..Okay so I have no photography experience but here's what I'd do-I'd call up a local professional and see if they can't mentor you...it couldn't hurt!
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
5 May 10
Hello and Thanks...I will have to look into that. There aren't that many photographers here in my local area and that is why I thought this might be a decent idea...I have been looking online and have found some great tips and I am now trying to look into a way that I can go under any competitors prices. Thanks for your response Rachelle
